Design-reproducing apparatus and stylus unit therefor



y 20, 1952 E. P. TURNER ETAL 2,597,686

DESIGN-REPRODUCING APPARATUS AND STYLUS UNIT THEREFOR Filed May 6, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet l uummml l flflvenfoeas Edgar P T umer and Norris H ,Saz'ler Wz'inm 35- y 20, 1952 E. P. TURNER ET AL 2,597,686

DESIGN-REPRODUCING APPARATUS AND STYLUS UNIT THEREFOR I Filed May 6, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 mll 7 E ar]? Turner and I orrz's H. Sailer May 20, 1952 E. P. TURNER ETAL 2,597,686

DESIGN-REPRODUCING APPARATUS AND STYLUS UNIT THEREFOR Filed May 6, 1950 s Sheets-Sheet 5 99 9. X 4108 101 a I J06 100 63 89 88 I v L 1Z0 v 12g w IM. 5;? lUH-%90 110 T ]15 I 63 %/]I6 f 105 Q 00 J03 1M 4 Jnvenfom I Edgar? Yizmer and Norris liflaz'ler Wzmea y I I g I May 20, 1952 E. P. TURNER ET AL DESIGN-REPRODUCING APPARATUS AND STYLUS UNIT THEREFOR Filed May 6, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 yiznems,

Jmzeuiom Edgar]? Turner and Mzrrz'sH Sailer fig May 20, 1952 E. P. TURNER ET AL 2,597,686

DESIGN-REPRODUCING APPARATUS AND STYLUS UNIT THEREFOR Filed May 6, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 X 1/0 Vans J34 AC.

6' VbLTs 110 I ZLTS A, C. A. 0.

&

Edgar? Hamel" and v or'ris H ,Saz'ler wzney Jnvenfou.

Patented May 20, 1952 U N E'TE ID STATES PATENT OFFICE DESIGN-REPR'ODUCEN G APPARATUS AND STYLUS UNIT THEREFOR.

tion of New Jersey -Application May 6, 1950, Serial No. 160,486

21 Claims.

This invention: relates to improvements in design-reproducing apparatusand more particularly to apparatus iforsperforming work upon a workpiece in accordancewith. a line on a drawmg. A'more specificobject of this invention is to provide .an .improved :stylus means for a designreproducing frame; having a :manually movable armadaptedto be shiftedabout in a plane adjacent the surface of a. pattern drawing for the; purpose of shifting a workpiece relative to a work-performing device.

A further object ofthepresent invention is to provide a; pantograph-. equipped embroidering apparatus, including a'zig-Zaggtype sewing ma chine, with a 'patternetrackingstylus head in which is incorporated means for giving the human operator a. visual indication-0f .the'amplitude of lateral needle'vibration.

With the above and other specific objects in view, the invention scomprises. the'devices, combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described in connection with the accompanying drawingswhich illustrate a preferred-embodiment of the invention, from which the several features of the inventionuand. the advantages attained thereby will be readily understood by those skilled in-theart.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 represents a perspective view of a sewing machine and its supporting table with which the present invention is employed.

Fig. 2 represents a fragmentary right-hand end view of the unit disclosed inFig. 1.

Fig. 3 represents a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 represents, on an enlarged scale, a side elevational view taken substantially along .the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 represents, onan enlarged scale, a perspective view of the work-holding implement employed in the present apparatus, whichimplement is illustrated as carrying afabric workplece.

Fig. 6 represents, in a diagrammatic manner, a pattern in the shape of the letter L which is adapted to be tracked by the stylusv head of the pantograph unit.

Fig. 7 represents,in a diagrammatic manner, a monogram formed by means of zigzag stitches,

Fig. .8 represents a longitudinal sectional view through the stylus headillustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 represents a top plan view of the stylus headiwith the cover portion thereof removed.

Fig. 10. represents a front elevation view of two banks of electrical lamps employed in the present stylus head.

Fig. 11 represents, on an enlarged scale, asectional view taken substantially along the line illl of Fig. 8.

. Fig; 12 represents, in a diagrammatic manner, a top plan view of the lens and reflector system employed in the stylus head illustratedin Fig. 8.

Fig. 13 representsa side elevation view of the elements disclosed in Fig. .12.

Fig. 14 represents atop plan view of the-projected light spot shown in- Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 representsa topplan view of one end portion of the-pantograph unit together with .its associated stylus head.

Fig. Iii-represents, on an enlarged scale, .aside elevation View, partly in section; of the table unit so as to disclose the manner, in which the needle vibrating control mechanism. of the-sewing machine head is connected ywith the ,knee control lever.

Fig. 1'7 represents a wiring diagram which illustrates the, manner; in which thelight bulbs of. the stylus head are-successivelyenergizechand de-energized.

Fig. 18 represents a, wiring diagram of-amodified .form of light bulb control mechanism.

-Referring to the drawings, the present-invention is' broadly employed with ,an .embroidery mechanism havinga .zigzagtype sewing machine 29 and a manually controlledpantograph-mechanism 2! of which one end portiongcarries an embroideryhoop 22 for presenting-.beneathnthe vibratory needle of the sewing machine the-work to be monogrammed. The otherendportion of the pantograph mechanism .carriesa stylus, generally designatedby the numeral 23, which the operator employs for tracing a monogram stena A knee :shift lever 24 is providedfor enabling the operator to vary. the amplitude of lateral needle vibration so that the width of zigzag seams may be altered, during the stitching-operation to the end'that the monogram outline may be of divers widths.

Referring. particularly to Figs, 1, 2, 3 and 5,

the present invention is incorporated in a table having a substantially flat upper surface 25 which is provided at one end portion with a conventional sewing machine cutout 25 for receiving therein the above noted zigzag sewing machine generally designated by the numeral 20. This cutout, and consequently the sewing head, may be set at an angle of 45 with the longitudinal axis of the table in order that the vertical and horizontal runs of the monogrammed work will have the same angle of stitches. In this connection, reference may be had to Fig. 7 wherein a monogram in the form of a letter L is disclosed and designated by the numeral 27. This monogram is formed by means of zigzag stitches 28, and it will be understood that with the machine head 20 disposed at the above noted 45 angle, the vertical and horizontal runs of the monogrammed work have the same angle of stitches. For the purpose of illustration, the distance between these stitches is greatly exaggerated.

Mounted directly beneath the table top 25 and upon a shelf 29 carried by the table legs 3!], 30, is a horizontally disposed pantographsupporting apron 3i which extends outwardly from beneath the table top 25 in order to expose the stylus-supporting end of the pantograph unit. This stylus-supporting end of the pantograph mechanism is carried directly upon the outwardly protruding apron 3! while the other end portion thereof is carried by the shelf 23 at a location beneath the table level and in vertical alignment with an opening 32 formed within the table surface. An arm 33 extends upwardly from the pantograph and through the table and is provided with a horizontal limb 33 which extends over the table 25 so as to support the embroidery hoop 22 directly over the sewing machine throat-plate and beneath the needle-bar mechanism.

The upper surface 35 of the protruding apron 3! may be formed from a flat piece of transparent material directly beneath which, and in a rectangular pocket 36 formed in the apron 3!, a pattern or stencil sheet may be positioned. The stylus head 23 provided on the outwardly protruding end portion of the pantograph may be tracked about a given pattern carried in the apron pocket 36 so as to effect a corresponding movement of the embroidery hoop 22 to the end that the sewing machine will produce a monogram of predetermined shape.

The above noted protruding apron 3| is slidably mounted on track elements 3?, 37 carried directly upon the shelf 29 so that it may be manually shifted crosswise of the table 25. This movement of the apron, which carries the stylus-supporting end of the pantograph, is effective to alter the pantograph-to-monogram ratio. An apertured indexing plate, generally designated by the numeral 38 is provided at the right-hand end portion of the apron (see Fig. 2) and a manually operable locking pin 39 is provided upon the shelf 29 for the purpose of looking the plate 38, and consequently the apron 3!, in any one of several predetermined apron positions. Means, not herein disclosed, are provided in each of the two end portions of the pantograph unit for locking such ends respectively to the apron 3| and to the shelf 29, thereby to effect a relative adjustment of the pantograph ends upon the shifting of the apron. The specific construction details of the apron 3|, together With the pantograph unit 2 I, do not form a part of this invention, and thus the details of these elements will not be fully described herein.

As hereinabove noted, the present apparatus includes a sewing machine of the so-called zigzag type which comprises a fiat bed 40 afiording a work support, and from one end of which rises a hollow standard 41 of a bracket-arm 4| overhanging the bed-plate and terminating in a needle-bar carrying head 42.

The present sewing machine 20 is of a conventional zigzag type which includes a vertically reciprocatory and laterally vibratory needle 43 which is adapted to form zigzag stitches in a work material. Machines of this type employ means for varying the amplitude of lateral needle vibration from zero to a maximum amount and in the machine illustrated in Fig. 1 there is provided a lever arm 44 for this purpose. More specifically, the lever arm 44 is connected with a needle vibration control mechanism so that when the lever is in the position illustrated in Fig. 1 the needle is given no lateral vibratory movements and thus it is adapted to be reciprocated in a fixed vertical path. However, when the lever 44 is moved upwardly in a counterclockwise direction it is adapted to impart a sidewise vibratory movement to the needle-bar; it being understood that the further the lever is moved the greater will be the amplitude of lateral needle vibration. Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 16, it is to be noted that the free end portion of the lever 44 has pivotally connected thereto the upper end of a control link 45, the lower end portion of which projects downwardly through an aperture 46 provided in the sewing machine bed-plate 40 so that the lower end of the link may project beneath the surface of the table 25. From this it will be understood that the movement of this link 45 endwise of itself will shift the lever 44 about its pivot point so as to control the needle-bar vibratory mechanism. Referring specifically to Fig. 1, a coil spring 41 is illustrated as having its lower end portion secured to a pin 48 carried by the machine head while its upper end portion is secured directly to the lever 44 for the purpose of biasing the latter into its lowermost position which corresponds to the null position of the needle-bar vibratory mechanism.

For a more complete description of the above noted zigzag sewing machine with its accompanying vibratory needle-bar control, reference may be had to the U. S. Patent of Eames No. 2,005,673, June 18, 1935.

The above noted knee-shift lever 24 is in the form of a substantially inverted L-shaped crank, the horizontal limb 49 of which is journaled within a pair of apertured brackets 50 and 5| which are each secured directly to the adjustable apron 3!. Also mounted upon the apron 3! is a substantially U-shaped bracket 52 which, as may be best observed from Fig. 2, functions to embrace a portion of the knee-shift lever so as to prevent the latter from shifting endwise within its journal bracket 59. The lever 24 is adapted to be operated by an operators knee in the usual fashion.

As noted hereinabove, the free end portion of the needle-bar control lever arm 44 has pivotally connected thereto the above noted link 25, the lower portion of which extends through the aperture 35 provided in the sewing machine bedplate 44 so as to permit its extreme lower end portion to project below the surface of the table. Means, hereinafter described, are rovided for connectingv thexlowerxend portion.lof-ithermemben- 45 vto' the kneeeshift leve'r 24m Thus ,zhthe woperaa: tor may :varyrthe amplitude: rthe lateral: needle: vibration during; the; operation E of the machine bytmeans ofqthe :knee-shif.t lever 24 to the 1 end that the width of theqzigzagz seams may be altered.- In this connection,- reference may; be" had to Fig: 7- wherein the monogram is illustrated as a letter L. 3Itwill beobservedthat'the width: of this letter varies throughout its length so that in order "properly to form'zsuch la letter-by; means of stitches it will be necessaryztovvaryethe ama plitude of the lateral needle vibration. Thus, the-presentapparatus is'provided with mechanism which maybe controlled by the above noted knee-shift lever 2-4-so that av'movement'of such lever will vary the amplitudev of lateral needle vibration.

As 'hereinabove-noted,- the operator. may vary the pattern-to-monogram ratio by shifting the apron- 31 relative to thel-l-shelfi unit 29. This movement of the apron also varies the knee-shift linkage system so that the ratio of-movement oithe shift lever 24 relative to-that oftthe needlecontrol lever 44 may be altered and the maximum throwof the needle maybe made to varywith the monogramsizewhile the .knee shiit lever is still adapted to-be moved-in accordance with the pattern size.

More specifically, the present i knee-shiftlinkage systemcomprises .a horizontally disposed shaft 53, theopposite endnportions of. which are journaled in the end portions of a box-like bracket generally designated by the-numeral 54. Re ferring particularly to Figs. 2 and 16, this bracket 5 l mayebe secured to upper leg channel member 55 bymeansof boltso55, 5B. It is to be understood that the shaft 53 is disposed in parallelism with the horizontal limb 49 of the knee-shift lever 24., Carried uponthe opposite end portions of the shaft 53 area pair of arms of unequal length. which are connected together at their freerendiportions by means of a rod 51 which engages a .crank arm 58 carried by thehorizon'tal limb is of the knee-shift lever. The shorter of these twoarms is designated by the'numeral 59 while thelonger one is designated by the numeral 68. Thus,in effect, the armslfifi and 60, together with the inclined rodil, form a crank which engages the crank 58 so as to transmit motion from the-knee-shift lever .24 to the shaft 53.. Further more: the rod 5? forms aflsubstantially inclined cam portion of this crank so that when the knee shift lever 24 is shifted lengthwise of its horizontal limb 49, the effective lever arm ratio be tween. such cranks is varied. Still referring to. Figs. 2 and 16, it is to be understood that the short arm 59 is provided with a crank element 61 which is adapted to underlie directly the lower end portion of the depending connecting elementAS'. The above noted coil spring 41 functions to bias the lever 44, together with the con.- necting element 65, downwardly thereby to force the lower end portion of the element 45 into operable engagement with the underlying crank 6!. The inclined rod 51, carried by the two depending arms 59 and 60, forms, as above noted, an angle vwith the horizontal limb 49 of the kneeshift lever and thus, when the apron 3| is shifted relative to the shelf 29', thecrank arm 58 and the rod El aremoved relative to each other to the end.;that their eifectivelever ratios are varied. Thus, an increment of movementof the knee-l shift lever 49 about its longitudinal axis can produce various-amplitudes ofendwisemovement in- 6 the) connection links; :45 depending; upon: cthe amount ofclengthwisecadjustmentz'of zther. kneea shift .leverarmr 459 relative to the inclined-rod 15L From theaabove; itawillibe. appreciateduthat a rotary, movementrof the lkneel shif t lever :2 t about the :longitudinal axis iOf-yitS horizontal ,liinb 39 from its .zero position will-be effective to operate theabove"noted-levenarm :44 which; in turn functions to control -F-the :amplitude of lateral: needlei vibration; x As the movement-tofu theqkneee;

shift ,leverarm Z lwis increased in arcounterolock wise direction -as viewed in: Figs. 1; the vlever: arm 44 will-be shifted :alsoinancounterclockwise directiontherebyto increase? the amplitude of lat-z eral::needle-bar vibrations from-:zero' to maxi-'1 muma- ::Also, :if the knee-shiftt-lever: 24 is moved end-wise; of its horizontal? limb. 149; itawilli function to alter the efiective' lever.- ratio between its. crank portionfiii: and the inclined rod 5'! so theta-given amplitude of rotary motion of the k-neeesh-ift levehwill (produce selective amplitudes cf-i lateral needle-bar vibration.

For 1 a more 1 complete 1 description :of this, aparticular knee-shift control-lever,together with-its variable linkage: system, reference maybe-hadto a pendingeU. patentapplication of R Turner entitled: Control -Meansvfor Sewing Machinesfli which applicationawas filed on or about May-:5," 1950, and bears serialNor160 271;

t Thee-above noted-pantographi device comprises: a manually movable arm :62 which is pivotallyv secured by means of pins 63"and:64- to a:pair.-of link arms '65 andwfifi eaclrof which latteruelements arein turn pivotally secured to athirdlink arm 61 bymeans of pins 68-andr59-therebyto form t a conventional .pantograph structure; Embracing the linkharmafifi is -alcollarmember 69 which, as may be best seen from -Fig.- 2-, is pivotally mounted-upon the apron 3| by means-10f a pin- 10. From this- -it -will be understood that movement of the main arm 62 will function .to shift the various epantograph links relative-to each other and the entire unit will pivot about the'pin 10 in the usual fashion. Attached-to the abovedescribed main-portion iof the .pantograph mechanism is an auxiliary mechanism which includes apair of parallel arms 1i and- 12 each of whichis pivotally securedat its one end-portion to an arm--13 as by means :of lappropriate'pins- The other-end'portion of each of ,thearms. 7'! I and 12. ispivotally secured 'to one limb of a bell-crank lever 14 bymeanswof appro-- priate :pin elements. The other limb ofithe bellcrank lever 44 is pivotallysecured to the end portionsiof eachl'of a second r pair-of parallel arms designated by numerals 15'and'16, which-arms are pivotallyi securedat their other end portions by'meansof: pins 11,11 to a blockfls which is fixedly secured-to-the shelf member 29.

Thefree end portion .of the arm -13-is providedwith a suitableclampingmechanismulB for the purpose ofadj ustably carrying the above: noted upstanding: arm 33 which projects" upwardly throughuthetable. aperture 32 so as to support upon its upper end portion the above-noted workholding member.

As is 'best'disclosed in.Fig.- 5,the work-holding member 34 includesdnnerandouternested hoop elements Hand whichare adapted to main-- taintherebetween' a piece of-fabric generally designated by numeral 8!; This hoop v structureis of 'a' conventional nature andthus a detailed description of it is notnecessary. From-the. above, it will= be readily .appreciatedby those skilled in the artthat as the stylus head-23,

which is carried by the free end portion of the pantograph arm 62, is tracked about the lines of a pattern drawing disposed within the pocket 36 of the apron 3|, the hoop elements 22 and 80 will faithfully reproduce the motions of the stylus head all in a conventional fashion. Thus, if the pattern drawing illustrates, for example, a letter L and the stylus head 23 is tracked about such letter, the work material BI will be appropriately shifted beneath the vertically reciprocatory and laterally vibratory needle 43 so that as a result the sewing machine will produce stitches upon the workpiece in a manner such that a monogram in the shape of an L will be formed as illustrated in Figs. and '7. The present pantograph unit may take any conventional form, and since the details of the pantograph construction do not form a part of the present invention, no further description of it is deemed necessary.

As hereinabove noted, the present invention contemplates the provision on the present pantograph unit of a stylus head in which is incorporated means for giving the operator a visual indication of the amplitude of lateral needle vibration. Briefly stated, this means produces upon a pattern drawing a light spot in the form of an elongated beam the length of which is made to vary in accordance with the variations in the needle throw amplitude. erator at all times will be advised visually as to the width of the monogram which the sewing machine is producing upon the workpiece. As will be hereinafter described in more detail, this light spot is produced by a bank of lamps carried :a

in the stylus head 23 and energized successively in proportion to the movement of the knee-shift lever by means of a progressively acting switch.

Considering now more specifically the stylus head 23, it may be best observed in Figs. 8 and 9 that this head is carried upon the free end portion of the manually operable pantograph arm 62. The free end portion of the arm 62 is provided with a vertically disposed aperture 82 within which is rotatably mounted a hollow cylinder 83 having an upper circular flange 84 which rests upon the fiat shoulder portion 85 of the arm 62. Mounted upon the flange 84, by means of a plurality of screws 99, 86, is a platform member 8'I which supports the entire stylus head 23. Suitably secured upon the platform member 81, as by means of rivets 88, 88, is a sheet metal bracket-member 39 having a pair of oppositely disposed and upstanding ear-members 99. Each of these ear-members is provided with a threaded aperture 9| for receiving a screw 92 which functions to secure upon the platform 81 a cover element 93. The above noted light beam apparatus is entirely enclosed within this cover element 93. Furthermore, it will be appreciated that the cover element 93, together with the platform member 81 and the supporting cylinder 83, is adapted to pivot about a vertical axis which corresponds to the longitudinal axis of the aperture 82.

Referring particularly to Figs. 2, 8 and 15, it will be observed that the lower end portion of the stylus head supporting cylinder 83 projects below the lower surface of the pantograph arm 62. A handle member 94 is provided with a central aperture 95 which permits the handle to be received directly over the distal end of the cylinder 83 while a substantially L-shaped member 96 functions to lock the handle member directly upon the cylinder so that a turning move- Thus, the op- 8 ment of the handle will function to carry with it the entire stylus head 23. More specifically, the member 99 has its upper limb 9I appropriately apertured so as to be received over the cylinder 89 and between the pantograph arm 62 and the handle member 94. A set screw 98 threaded within the member 96 functions, when tightened against the handle member 94, to clamp both the member 96 and the handle member against the cylinder 83 so that, as above indicated, the movements of the handle will carry with it the entire stylus head 23.

Disposed within the stylus head 23 and upon the platform member 87 are a series of incandescent lamps, generally designated by the numeral 99, which lamps are arranged with a pair of mirrors I99 and Illl and a lens I92 (see Fig. 11) so that the images from the lamp filaments projected onto the pattern drawing contained within the apron pocket 36 adjoin each other to form an elongated light spot the length of which may be varied by the selective switching of the lamps. A conventional multiple leaf switch, generally designated by the numeral I03, operated from the knee-shift lever 24 which controls the needle vibratory throw, successively turns on more lamps as the throw increases so that the length of the light spot is a measure of the needle throw at any instant. In this arrangement the central lamp is not de-energized but remains on at all times and corresponds to the central or null position of needle vibration. Then, as the needle vibratory throw increases in response to further movement of the knee-shift lever, the lamps are energized, one-by-one, alternately on either side of said central lamp, until, when maximum needle throw is obtained, all lamps are lighted and the light spot has its maximum length.

Referring particularly to Figs. 8, 9 and 10, it i to be observed that in order to secure close lateral spacing of the lamp filaments, small 6-8 volt miniature pilot lamp bulbs, each of which may be generally designated by the numeral Hi4, having reduced bulb diameters are employed in a two-bank staggered arrangement. More specifically and as best disclosed in Fig. 10, five lamps occupy the bottom row while four lamps occupy the top row, the lamps of each row being in side-by-side parallel relation with both banks of lamps so staggered that the three central lamps of the bottom row look through between the lamps of the top row. All of these lamps are soldered together as at I to form a unitary assembly which is secured directly to the platform member 8? by means of a bracket I96 of which one leg is soldered to the lamps as at I9I while the other leg is secured directly to the platform member 8? by means of a bolt I98 and a nut I99, as may be best observed in Fig. 9. Still referring to Fig. 9, it will be observed that the lamp assembly is disposed within the stylus head so that it will form an angle of 30 with the transverse axis of the platform member 8'I for a purpose which will be hereinafter described.

As may be best seen from Figs. 8 and 9, the above noted mirror we is secured by means of bracket arms H9, H9, and screws III, III, to a bracket member II2, the lower portion of which is rigidly secured to the platform 81 by means of rivets I I3. It will be observed that the upper portion of the bracket member I I2 is bent at an angle of approximately 45 relative to the platform member so as to receive the light from the lamps in a manner such that this light will be projected to the'second mirror IUI which may be'adhesively secured to a second bracket member-I I4. Thissecond mirror-functions to direct the'light from the lamp filaments downwardly along the pivot axis of the stylus head so that this light willpass through the lens I02 and be projected upon the pattern drawing which is disposed within the apron pocket 36. More specifically, the second bracket IM- has its mirrorcarrying portion disposed at an angle of approximately 45 relative to the platform member 81 while the lower portion of this bracket is an integral part of the above noted'bracket 89.

As may be seen from Figs. 8 and 13, the bracket 89-is apertured at 89' so as to permitthe light to pass therethrough.

By" referring particularly to Figs. Sand '11, it will be observed-that the'stylus carryin cylinder 83is provided with a central*aperture"lI5 in which is telescopically mounted a lens carrier IIEi. This lens carrier I16 is formed as a hollow cylinder and has within its" tubular portion 'I H a conventional lens I92." It will be manifest to thoseskilled in the art that'by adjusting the lens'carrierilIt lengthwise of and within the cylinder 83 the light spot formed by: the light from the lamps'SQ may be properly brought into focus upon the pattern drawing.

Referringagaiirto Fig; 8, the forward portion of the'pantograph arm 62 is provided with a rel case I Iain which is mounted'a conventional terminal block H9 I'whichfunctions to connect'the various lamps of the assemblyiiil'to aproper source of electrical supply 'through'the medium of two bun'dles' of conduits generally designated I by the numerals I 29 and I 20'".

Referring now particularly to FigsfZ; 3, i and 17, the above noted switch N33 is' carried upon the"bracket"5l' whichis secured'directlyto the apron 3!, and the above'noted horizontal limb 49 of theknee-shift' lever arm fidbarries 'a screw I 2| the free end portion of which carries a washer I22 which underlies an actuating armI23 of the switch i023. Thus, as the arm 49 is rebulbsin a' manner as'above indicated. Con versely, when the knee-shift lever arm 49"moves in a counterclockwise direction within'its bracket elements, the switeh actuating arm 223 will be lowered; so thatthe various lightbulbs'will be ole-energized to theend'that merely the center bulb of the'{ lower bank will be left energized. Thus, as thekne'e-shift" lever isactuated for the purpose of increasingbr decreasing theampli tude of'needle' vibration, the operator by merely observing the pattern drawing will be"advised by means of the light spot as to the exact ampli-'- tude of needle vibration. For example, reference may behad to Fig. 6 wherein'a letter L designated by the numeral I24is disclosed as illustrating'the type of pattern drawing which may Thus, 'by manipulatingthe knee-shift lever 24,"

the operator can 'siinultan'eou'sly alter th'e' amcarried by such arms.

10 plitude of lateral needle vibration and the length of the light spot, which in Fig. 6 is'illustrated by means of dotted lines I25. From this it will be readily appreciated that the'operator, by forcing the light spot to span merely the distance be tween the border lines of the letter L, can effectively produce a monogram within the work material which will directly correspond to the pattern drawing;

Referring now particularly to Figs. 17 and 18, the progressively actuating switch I03 is illustrated in a somewhat diagrammatic manner. More specifically, this switch comprises a platform member 25 which,'in a conventional fashion',supports the actuating arm I23 as well as a plurality of contact 'arm 'which are generally designated by the numeral I21. All of these arms are insulated from each other by means of suitable non-conductingpads I28. Fig. 17 also illustrates the actuating washer I22 which functions to raise the switch actuating arm I23 in a manner such that this arm will successively be electrically connected to each of the contact arms I21 through the medium of the contacts I2'I The present apparatus employs a conventional transformer I29 one side of which may be connected to a suitable source of electrical energy such as 110 volts A. 'C. The other side of the transformer'may be provided with two terminals ofwhichone is connected to ground as at I30'whi1ethe other may be connected directly to the switch-actuating arm I23 and to one terminal of the above noted central light bulb IEM by means of conductors I3I and I32. It is to loe'als'o noted that one of the two terminals of each of the light'bulbs is connected to ground by means of a conductor I33. The remaining terminal of each of the light bulbs, with the exception of the central bulb W4, is connected to a respective one of the'switch contact arms I 21 by a suitable one of the eight conductors which are generally designated by the numeral I34. From this it is clear that when the transformer H29 is connected 'to a suitable source of power the central light bulb I04 will be energizedwhile each of the remaining light bulbs will be'de-energized due to the fact that the various contact arms I21 are not connected with the actuating arm I23. However, when the knee-shift lever arm 24 is rotated'in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 4, the washer I22 will be elevated so that the arm I23-will successively contact each of the armS'IZI thereby successively to energize 'the bulbs one-by one,

alternately on either side of the central lamp IM so as progressively to increase the length of the projected light spot. Conversely, when the washer I22 is lowered, the lamps will be suecessively ale-energizedso as to shorten the light "spot.

Referring now to Fig. 18, there is illustrated a modified form of switching arrangement which functions to energize'and de-e'nergize the various lights in pairs rather than'in an alternate manner as was illustrated in Fig. 16. This modified system utilizes thesame transformer arrangement as illustrated in'Fig. 1'7, and, furthermore, one leg of the transformer is connected to ground as at I 30 while the other leg is con- "nected directly to the switch-actuating armv I23 terminal of each of the lamps; including the central lamp I04, is connected to ground by means of a conductor I33 so that with theswitching arrangement as illustrated in Fig. 18 the central lamp I04 is energized while the remaining lamps are de-energized. It will be observed that the remaining terminals of all of the lamps, with the exception of lamp I94, are connected to the switch arms IZ'I in pairs by means of conductors I36 so that as the main actuating arm I23 is elevated to contact the arms I21 one lamp at each side of the central lamp will be energized and the light spot will be progressively lengthened in a symmetrical manner.

As hereinabove noted, the sewing machine 2| is disposed within its cutout 26 so that the needlebar 43 will vibrate laterally in a direction which is disposed substantially at 45 relative to the longitudinal axis of the table so that the vertical and horizontal runs of a monogram letter will have the same angle of stitches. With this particular disposition of the sewing machine, it is clear that the above described light spot system should be designed so that the elongated light spot projected upon the pattern drawing will be disposed in parallelism with the direction of lateral needle vibration. The present invention contemplates a disposition of the light bulbs such that this condition of parallelism will exist. For example, by referring to Fig. 9, it is to be noted that the lamp assembly 99 is disposed at an angle of 30 relative to the transverse axis of the stylus platform 81. Actually this angle should be 45 in order to produce the above noted condition of parallelism, but it has been found more convenient, due to the space limitations of the stylus head, to dispose the lamps at this 39 angle and then compensate for the difference between the desirable 45 and the actual 30 by shifting the stylus head 23 in a clockwise direction 15 relative to the handle member 99 in a manner as is best disclosed in Fig. 15. In utilizing the present pantograph system, the operator grasps each of the free end portions of the handle member 94 and tracks the pattern drawing in a manner such that the handle will remain in parallelism with the longitudinal axis of the table 2 5 at all times, and thus by so shifting the stylus head 23 relative to the handle, the projected light spot will be found to be substantially in parallelism with the direction of lateral needle-bar vibration.

In order to understand fully the present mirror and lens system, reference may be had to Figs. 12 and 13 which diagrammatically illustrate the manner in which the light from the various lamps is collected and projected onto the pattern drawing. Referring particularly to these two figures, the line I31 represents, for example, the lower bank of lamp bulbs while the dots a, b, c represent, respectively, the two end lamps and the central lamp of the lower lamp bank. Thus, the light from these three lamps will be projected from the line I3"! to the mirrow I09 from which it will be reflected to the second mirror I M so as to be reflected downwardly through the lens I02 which functions to focus the beam upon the pattern drawing. The solid lines of the Figs. 12 and 13 illustrate the actual light paths while the phantom lines behind the mirrors illustrate the imaginary light paths which determine the socalled visual images. From this it will be appreciated that the two mirrors I99 and I9I function to reverse the angle of the light'spot relative to the angle of the lamp bank assembly when the longitudinal axis of the platform 9'! is used as a reference. More specifically, and referring to Fig. 12 it will be noted that the angle of the line I 31 relative to the transverse axis of the platform 81 is completely reversed from that of the line I38 which represents the reflected image of the line I31 in the mirror IOI. From this it will be understood that this is the reason why the lamp unit 99 is disposed at an angle relative to the transverse axis of the platform 81, which is substantially the reverse of that formed by the path of lateral needle vibration. Fig. 14, represents a top plan view of the projected light spot I39 shown in Fig. 13, and it will be appreciated that this light spot forms, as does the light bank assembly 99, an angle of 30 relative to the transverse axis of the platform 81. Now referring to Fig. 15, it is manifest that with the arm 94 of the stylus head 23 disposed in parallelism with the longitudinal axis of the table and with the stylus head 23 disposed at an angle of 15 with such arm, the light spot I39 which is projected upon the pattern drawing will form an angle of 45 with the longitudinal axis of thetable to the end that the light spot will be disposed in parallelism with the normal path of lateral needle vibration. Furthermore, since the operator in utilizing the present pantograph, tracks the projected light spot I99 about the lines of a pattern drawing with the stylus handle 94 disposed at all times in parallelism with the longitudinal axis of the table, it will follow that the light spot will at all times be disposed in parallelism with the path of lateral needle vibration.

As above noted, the line I3! is defined by the dots a, b and c which represent, respectively, the two end lamps and the central lamp of the lower lamp bank. Referring to Figs. 12, 13 and 14, it will be noted that the line I39, which represents the reflected image of the line I37 in the mirror I 0|, is actually defined by the dots a b and c which, of course, are the light spots formed directly by the reflected images of the lamps a, b: and o. By the same token, the line I39 is defined by the dots a", b and c" which are the light spots formed on the pattern drawing by the reflected images from the lamps a, b and 0.

Of course, a certain amount of the light from the lamp filaments will be diffused to the end that the lens I02 will transmit to the pattern drawing a faint circular spot of light which might or might not be discernible by the human eye depending upon the amount of general illumination available in the area in which the machine is operated. However, the major portion of the light from each lamp filament will be transmitted by the mirrors I and IOI and the lens I92 as a discrete light spot, and due to the arrangement of the lamps in a pair of elongated stacked banks, the images from all of the energized filaments will be projected onto the pattern drawing to form a straight row of adjoining discrete light spots which, in effect, form an elongated light beam, the length of which is made to vary by the selective switching of the lamps. As a matter of fact, when all nine of the lamps are energized the human eye will readily detect upon the pattern drawing nine discrete light spots which make up the elongated light beam I39 (see Fig. 14). With all nine of the lamps energized, the beam I39 will be of maximum length, but as the outside or end lamps are de-energized the length of the beam I39 will become successively shorter.

Referring to Fig. 13, it will be noted that the mirrors I09 and I9I are not actually disposed at 45 relative to the horizontally disposed platform 81. This is for the reason that in the actual construction of the stylus-head itwas foundmore convenient to dispose each of the -mirrors at a slightly different anglegbut it will be readily appreciated --thatthe mirrors could each be readily "disposed "at 45 relative to the platformwith'very'littlechange in the stylus head con struction: Furthermore; with the 'lampassembly 39 disposed at an angle of 45 relative to the transverse-axis of the' pla'tform '89 it would not be necessary to oifset the stylus head 15 relativeto it's-handle 941- Havingthus se't forth the nature of the inven tion, what *we claim herein is:

1. Anappara'tus for-performing work'upon a workpiecein accordance with'a line on a :drawingy comprising a work performing device, a manually operable design-reproducing fl'aLll'lG, a stylus'head carried 'by 'one end of said frame for tracking the drawing, means carried on the other end of said frame forcausing relative" motion between said work-performing device and the Work, means carried by the stylus head for throwing'a spot of lightupon'the drawing for directly tracking the drawing lines, and means for varying the dimensions of the light spot.

2;An apparatus for performing work upon a workpiece in accordance with a line on a drawing,-comprising a work performing device for operating upon the work along a path of finite width, means for varying the width of the'work operating upon the-work along a path of finite width, a manually operable design-reproducing frame, a'stylus head carried by oneend of said frame for'trackingthe drawing, means carried on the other end of said frame for causing relative motion between said work-performing device and the work, means'carried by 'thestylus head for throwing a spot of light upon the drawing for directly tracking the drawing linesyand means for simultaneously varying the width'of the work path and thedimensions .of the light spot so that the light beam will give a visual indication of the .work path width.

4. An apparatus forperforming work ,upona workpieceinaccordance with a line on a draw.- ing, comprising a Work-performing device for operating upon thework along a pathof finite width, means for varying the width of the work path, a manually operable design-reproducing frame, a stylus head carriedby'one end of said frame for tracking the drawing means: carried on thelother end of said frame forcausingrela tive motion between said work performing deviceand the workinresponse-to the movements ofsaid' frame, means including a bankiof electrical lamps carried by said stylus head for throwing a spot of light upon the'drawing for directly tracking the drawing. lines, and switch ingrmeans connected-iv with said lamps for suc cessively energizing and de-energizingsaid lamps in a predetermined sequence therebyto vary the dimensions of the projected light 'spot.

5. An apparatus for performing work up'on a workpiece in accordance with a lineon a drawing; comprising a work-performing device for operating uponthe :work path 'along a path .of

finite width;- a manually operable desigmreproducingframera stylus head carriedtbyone end of said frame for-tracking thedrawing," means carried on1-the"other.. end: of said frame. for causing relative motion between said work-performing devic'e and :the workgmeans including a bankof electrical: lamps carried by said stylus head -foriithrowingl a spot of light'upon the drawing for: sdirectlyiztracking'w the drawing lines,

switching means connected with'said lamps for successively l. energizing and die-energizing said lampsgin a predetermined sequence "thereby to vary the dimensions of :the projected light spot, and means :for 'simultaneouslyevarying the width of lthe work. path and=-operating said switch so that .the .light spot will give a visual indication of Ltheiwork path width;

6. A stylus head for a design-reproducing 'frarner'capable. ofmovement relative to a pattern drawingpsaidstylus head including .a bankuofi electrical lamps; means'for projecting the light from all of said lamps-upon the drawing substantially'in thelform of a'single beam, and a progressively acting switch: connected with said lamps for irsuccessively. energizing and de-energizing said lamps in 'a predetermined sequence thereby to: varythe dimensionslof the-projected beam.

7, A stylusiiheaddoua design-reproducing frametcapable of movement relative to a pattern drawing,.saidxistylus head including a bank of electrical :lampsidisposed substantially in sideby-side fparallel"alignment, means for projecting'the. light"fromwallmof said lamps upon a pattern'idrawing soiasto form upon said drawing a substantially single elongated light spot for tracking the drawing lines, and a progressivelyt acting switchlconnected with said lamps for successively energizing and de-energizing saidlamps in a predetermined sequence thereby to :varythe length of the light spot.

8. A stylus headxforxa design-reproducing frame'capableof movement relative to a pattern drawing, said stylusheadincludinga first bank of electrical lamps disposed substantially in sideby-side parallel alignment, a second bank of electrical lamps disposed directly adjacent and in staggered Larrangementwithsaid first bank,

meansfor gathering; the light emanating from all of said lamps and for-projecting such light toward the attern: drawing and in a direction substantially at rightangles .to a plane defined by the longitudinal axesof the'lamps of one Aof said banks so as to form upon said drawing a substantiallysingle elongated light spot for tracking the drawing lines, and means for varying the le'ng'th'of the light spot.

9.A' stylus head for a design-reproducing franie'capable of movement relative to a'pattern' drawingysaid' stylus head-including a first bank of electricaldamps disposed substantially in side 'by-side"parallel alignment, a second bank of electrical lamps disposed directly adjacent and in staggered arrangement with said first bank, means for gathering the light emanating fronr all of said lamps and for projecting such light toward thepattern drawing andma direction substantially at-rightangles to'a plane i defined by the longitudial axes of=-*the lamps of 15 one of said banks so as to form upon said drawing a substantially single elongated light spot for tracking the drawing lines, and a progressively acting switch connected with said lamps for successively energizing and de-energizing said lamps in a predetermined sequence thereby to vary the length of the elongated light spot.

10. A stylus head for a design-reproducing frame capable of movement relative to a pattern drawing, said stylus head including a bank of electrical lamps, means including a pair of light-reflecting elements for gathering the light emanating from all of said lamps, a lens for receiving the light gathered by said reflecting elements and for projecting such light upon a pattern drawing so as to form thereupon a substantially single elongated light spot for tracking the drawing lines, and means for varying the length of the light spot.

11. In a design-reproducing frame having a manually movable arm adapted to be shifted about in a plane adjacent the surface of a flat pattern drawing, the combination of a stylus head comprising, a platform pivotally mounted upon said frame arm about an axis transverse to the plane of frame-arm movement, a bank of electrical lamps disposed substantially in sideby-side parallel alignment upon said platform, means for projecting the light emanating from said lamps along the pivot axis of said platform and toward the pattern so as to form thereon a substantially single elongated light spot for tracking the drawing lines and means for varying the length of the light spot.

12. In a design-reproducing frame having a manually movable arm adapted to be shifted about in a plane adjacent the surface of a flat pattern drawing, the combination of a stylus head comprising, a platform pivotally mounted upon said frame arm about an axis transverse to the plane of frame-arm movement, a bank of electrical lamps disposed substantially in sideby-side parallel alignment upon said platform, means for projecting the light emanating from said lamp along the pivot axis of said platform manually movable arm adapted to be shifted about in a plane adjacent the surface of a flat pattern drawing, the combination of a stylus head comprising, a platform pivotally mounted upon said frame arm about an axis transverse to the plane of frame-arm movement, a bank of electrical lamps disposed substantially in sideby-side parallel alignment upon said platform, means including a pair of light-reflecting elements for gathering the light emanating from said lamps and for directing such light along the pivot axis of said platform, a lens disposed along said pivot axis for directing such light toward the pattern so as to form thereon a substantially single elongated light spot for tracking the drawing lines, and means including a progressively acting switch electrically connected with said lamps for successively energizing and de-energizing said lamps in a predetermined sequence thereby to vary the length of the elongated light spot.

14. In a design-reproducing frame having a manually movable arm adapted to be shifted about in a plane adjacent the surface of a flat pattern drawing, the combination of a stylus head comprising, a platform pivotally mounted upon said frame arm about an axis transverse to the plane of frame-arm movement, a bank of electrical lamps disposed substantially in sideby-side parallel alignment upon said platform, means for projecting the light emanating from said lamps along the pivot axis of said platform and toward the pattern so as to form thereon a substantially single elongated light spot for tracking the drawing line, means for varying the length of the light spot upon said pattern, and a manually operable handle element projecting from said platform to facilitate the manual adjustment of the stylus head about its pivot axis.

15. An embroidering apparatus for forming stitches in a workpiece in accordance with a line on a drawing, comprising, a zigzag-stitch sewing machine having an endwise reciprocatory and laterally vibratory needle, means for varying the amplitude of the lateral vibrations of said needle, a manually operable design-reproducing frame, a stylus head carried by one end of said frame for tracking the drawing, means carried by the other end of said frame for presenting the workpiece beneath the needle and for shifting the work relative to the sewing machine in response to the movements of said frame, means carried by said stylus head for throwing a light spot upon the drawing for directly tracking the drawing lines, and. means for altering the dimensions of the light spot.

16. An embroidering apparatus for forming stitches in a workpiece in accordance with a line on a drawing, comprising, a zigzag-stitch sewing machine having an endwise reciprocatory and laterally vibratory needle, means for varying the amplitude of the lateral vibrations of said needle, a manually operable design-reproducing frame, a stylus head carried by one end of said frame for tracking the drawing, means carried on the other end of said frame for presenting the workpiece beneath the needle and for shifting the work relative to the sewing machine in response to the movements of said frame, means carried by said stylus head for throwing a light spot upon the drawing for directly tracking the drawing lines, means for altering the dimensions of the light spot, and means for simultaneously varying the amplitude of lateral needle vibration and the dimensions of the light spot so that the light spot will give a visual indication of the stitch width.

17. An embroidering apparatus for forming stitches in a workpiece in accordance with a line on a drawing, comprising a zigzag-stitch sewing machine having an endwise reciprocatory and laterally vibratory needle, means for varying the amplitude of the lateral vibrations of said needle, a manually operable design-reproducing frame, a

- stylus head carried by one end of said frame for tracking the drawing, means carried on the other end of said frame for presenting the workpiece beneath the needle and for shifting the work relative to the sewing machine in response to the movements of said frame, means carried by said stylus head for throwing a light spot upon the drawing for directly tracking the drawing lines, means for altering the dimensions of the light spot, means for simultaneously varying the amplitude of lateral needle vibration and the dimen- 17 sions of the light spot so that the light spot will give a visual indication of the stitch width, and means for adjusting said last mentioned means so as to vary the ratio of adjustment between said lateral needle vibrations and the light spot dimensions.

18. An embroidering apparatus for forming stitches in a workpiece in accordance with a line on a drawing, comprising, a zigzag-stitch sewing machine having an endwise reciprocatory and laterally vibratory needle, means for varying the amplitude of the lateral needle vibrations, a manually operable design-reproducing frame, a stylus head carried by one end of said frame for tracking the drawing, means carried on the other end of said frame for presenting the workpiece beneath the needle and for shifting the work relative to the sewing machine in response to the movements of said frame, a bank of electrical lamps carried by said stylus head, means for directing the light from said lamps so as to form a substantially elongated light spot upon said drawing for directly tracking the drawing lines, and means for altering the length of said light spot.

19. An embroidering apparatus for forming stitches in a workpiece in accordance with a line on a drawing, comprising, a zigzag-stitch sewing machine having an endwise reciprocatory and laterally vibratory needle, means for varying the amplitude of the lateral needle vibration, a manually operable design-reproducing frame, a stylus head carried by one end of said frame for tracking the drawing, means carried on the other end of said frame for presenting the Work beneath the needle and for shifting the work relative to the sewing machine in response to the movements of said frame, said stylus head including a platform pivotally mounted upon said frame,

a bank of electrical lamps carried by said stylus platform, means for directing the light from said lamps along the pivot axis of said platform and toward the pattern so as to form a substantially elongated light spot upon said pattern for directly tracking the drawing lines, means for altering the length of said light spot, and means for simultaneously varying the amplitude of lateral needle vibration and the length of said light spot so that the latter will give a visual indication of the stitch width.

20. An embroidering apparatus for forming stitches in a workpiece in accordance with a line on a drawing, comprising, a zigzag-stitch sewing machine having an endwise reciprocatory and laterally vibratory needle, adjusting means for varying the amplitude of the lateral needle vibration, a manually operable design-reproducing frame, a stylus head carried by one end of said frame for tracking the drawing, means carried on the other end of said frame for presenting the work beneath the needle and for shifting the work relative to the sewing machine in response to the movements of said frame, said stylus head including a platform pivotally mounted upon said frame, a bank of electrical lamps carried by said stylus platform, means for directing the light from said lamps along the pivot axis of said platform and toward the pattern so as to form a substantially elongated light spot upon said pattern for directly tracking the drawing lines, means including a progressively acting switch electrically connected with said lamps for successively energizing and die-energizing said lamps in a predetermined sequence thereby to vary the length of the light spot, and means for simultaneously actuating said adjusting means and said switch thereby simultaneously to vary the amplitude of lateral needle vibration and the light spot length so that the light spot will give a visual indication of the stitch length.

21. An embroidering apparatus for forming stitches in a workpiece in accordance with a line on a drawing, comprising, a zigzag-stitch sewing machine having an endwise reciprocatory and laterally vibratory needle means for varying the amplitude of the lateral needle vibration, a manually operable design-reproducing frame, a stylus head carried by one end of said frame for tracking the drawing, means carried on the other end of said frame for presenting the work beneath the needle and for shifting the work relative to the sewing machine in response to the movements of said frame, said stylus head including a platform pivotally mounted upon said frame, a bank of electrical lamps carried by said stylus platform, means for directing the light from said lamps along the pivotal axis of said platform and toward the pattern so as to form a substantially elongated light spot upon said pattern for directly tracking the drawing lines, a handle mounted upon said platform for causing relative pivotal movements between said stylus head and said frame arm so that the elongated light spot may be maintained in proper orientation with the drawing lines during the tracking of said arm about the drawing, means for altering the length of said light spot, and means for simul- REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Eberle July 16, 1940 Number 

